Senior Manager, Brand & Communications

Municipal Credit Union•New York, NY

2h•$121,300 - $208,170

About The Position

The Sr. Manager, Brand and Communications is responsible for shaping, protecting, and elevating MCU's brand and reputation through strategic brand leadership, public relations, thought leadership, and enterprise communications. This role serves as the senior owner of MCU's brand and communications function and works closely with executive leadership and external agency partners to deliever cohesive, high-impact messaging aligned with MCU's business objectives, values, and growth strategy. This leader oversees key external relationships, including the marketing and public relations agencies, and directly manages a team responsible for partnerships, creative execution, and internal communications.

Requirements

Bachelor or advanced degree in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing or related field.
10+ years of experience in brand, communications, and public relations, with demonstrated leadership responsibility.
Public relations experience preferred.
Experience managing external PR agencies and/or content creators strongly preferred.
Ability to manage sensitive or confidential information with sound judgement.
Strong written, verbal, and digital communications skills.
Comfortable working with executive management, employees, media and the larger MCU community.
Impeccable copywriting and copy-editing abilities.
Excellent verbal communication and presentation skills.
Technologically proficient.

Nice To Haves

Strong ability to influence without authority
Ability to navigate reputational challenges and work with executives through complex communication decisions
Proven ability to manage change
Capacity to take calculated risks and innovate
Experience in setting vision and strategy
Successful in communicating effectively
Proven ability to build, manager, and develop high-performing teams

Responsibilities

Own and lead MCU's brand and communications strategy, ensuring consistent, high-quality messaging across all external and internal touchpoints.
Manage and work closely with our advertising agencies and partners to deliver creative work that builds our reputation and business. This includes responsibility for our creative strategies, campaigns and media plans.
Lead, plan, and execute enterprise-wide Town Halls and Leadership Connections meetings, including content development, executive coordination, messaging alignment, production oversight, and post-event communication.
Develop MCU's annual public relations strategy in partnership with the external PR firm, including media relations, planning, storyline development, executive visibility, and proactive opportunity identification.
Work closely with executive leadership to develop and manage thought leadership platforms for the CEO and members of the Executive Leadership Team, including speaking opportunities, interviews, podcasts and bylined content.
Develop and execute a scalable executive visibility and thought leadership strategy across relevant media and industry platforms.
Provide strategic counsel to executive leadership on reputation management, brand positioning, and external communications.
Prepare, manage, and oversee all corporate communications related to brand, reputation, and public relations, including messaging frameworks, content development, governance and approvals, performance analysis, and enterprise internal communication.
Work with the PR firm to prepare press releases and media materials for MCU and the MCU Foundation.
Oversee and manage external agency relationships, including MCU's marketing agency and public relations agency, ensuring clear scopes, accountability, performance measurement, and alignment with enterprise priorities.
Directly manage and develop the Manager of Partnerships, Graphic Designer, and Internal Communications Manager, providing clear priorities, performance expectations, and ongoing coaching.
Ensure strong cross-functional collaboration with Marketing, Product, Digital, HR, Legal, Compliance, and the MCU Foundation.
Perform other related duties as requested and special projects as assigned.